The Outlook 507 



a still easier interchange of traffic between the different tube 

 or underground railways themselves. 



An exceptionally important scheme of improved transport 

 was announced, on November 18, 1911, by the London and 

 North- Western Railway Company, such scheme comprising 



(1) the electrification of 40 miles of surburban railway, in- 

 cluding a material portion of the North London Railway; 



(2) the construction by the London Electric Railway Company 

 of a new tube, extending their Bakerloo line from Paddington 

 to the L. & N. W. system at Queens' Park ; and (3) the run- 

 ning, for the first time, and by means of specially-constructed 

 carriages, of through services between a trunk line and a tube. 



While the existing tube companies may thus extend their 

 lines, and while the trunk companies may seek to co-operate 

 more with them in providing for suburban traffic, the outlook 

 for any new tube companies in London would not seem to be 

 very promising in view of the fact that the holders of 

 ^9,300,000 of ordinary stock in the London Electric Railway 

 (controlling the Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Hampstead lines), 

 out of a total capitalisation of ; 16,200,000, received in 

 1911 a dividend equal to only one per cent. 



In the country what is most wanted is an increase in trans- 

 port facilities between existing railways and outlying districts, 

 the traffic from which would not be sufficient to justify the 

 construction of branch lines of ordinary railway. There are 

 fishing villages, agricultural districts, market gardening areas, 

 and innumerable small communities which would gain a 

 material advantage by being provided with better means of 

 communication with the nearest railway. 



Whether or not such facilities should be provided by (i) 

 road motors, (2) railless electric traction, or (3) light railways, 

 is a question that must depend on the conditions, circum- 

 stances or prospects of the locality concerned ; but if more 

 people are to be sent " back to the land," and if colonies of 

 small holders are to be established thereon with any hope 

 of success, then it is desirable, if not essential : (i) that each 

 colony of such settlers should form an agricultural co-operative 

 society ; (2) that each society should set up its depot to 

 facilitate the combination of purchases or consignments into 

 grouped lots ; and (3) that between the dep6t and a con- 

 venient railway station there should be provided some means 



